Blank-feeder for gumming-machines.



Nl. .E. PETERS, G. H. FATH L A. FNMILLER.

BLANK FEEDER FOR GUMMING MACHINES.

Pdtfnted Sept. 11, 1917 3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

-JUJ QM 7E/"5 5%' APPLICATION FILED 8.8.1916,

IVI. E. PETERS, G. H. FATH L A. F. MILLER.

BLANK FEEDER Foa GUMNHNG MAcmNEs.

M APPLICATION FILED FEB. 8. 1916. lsl 7 Patented Sept. 11, 1917.

'3 sHEETs-sHEEr 2.

5506/ for s.

f f l' E@ MM IVI. E. PETERS, G. H. FATH & A. F. MILLER.

BLANK FEEDER FOR GUMMING MACHINES.

APPLICAEION FILED FEB-8.1916.

Patented Sept. 11, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHED 3.

( l mechanism requires MELVILLE E. PETERS, GEORGE H. FATH, RADO, ASSIGNORS TO THE PETERS AND ALBERT F. MILLER, OF .DENVER. COLO- PATENT RIGHTS COMPANY, OF DENVER,

COLORADO, A CORPORATION 0F COLORADO.

recaer?.

Original application led May 25, 1915, Serial No. 30,471.

Specification of Letters Patent.

BLANK-FEEDER FOR GUMMING-MACHINES.

.Patented Sept.l itil, 1191"?. Divided and this appli-cation led February 8,

1916. Serial No. 76,988.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, MELVILLE E. PETERS, GEORGE H. FATH, and ALBERT F. MILLER, citizens of the United States of America, residing at the city and county of Denverl and State of Colorado, have invented a new and useful Blank-Feeder for Gumming- Machines, of which the following is a specification. y

Our invention relates to improvements in automatically operating blank -feeders for feeding blanks to gumming, printing, and other blank paper or other blank material using machines, Where blank pieces of p aper, silk and other materials are used to coverlboXes'and packages or ythat are to have descriptive or other matter printed on them, or in which they are to be cut or crimped or folded into' different shapes or forms, and the objects of our invention are:

First, to provide means by which a stack blanks are fed automatically to an air suction blankgripping and feeding mechanism at such predetermined intervals as the air suction blank gripping and feeding in order that the stack 1 may be advanced within its operative blank' 1s in any way out of correct and ymechanism for feeding blanks.

engaging and feeding movements.

Second, to provide a'- simple and positively operating mechanism for feeding blanks one at a time into any kind of a machine Where they are put to further treatnient for use.

Third, to provide means by which each blank is lifted and 'separated one by one from the stack ofblanks. And

Fourth, to provide a simple and inexpen-l sive combined mechanical and air suction VA further object of our invention is to provide an automatic feeding mechanism that will feed dry blanks or dry printed labels of paper, silk, leather, or other suitable material in such a rapid and positive` and reliable a manner that any blanks or labels that, have a corner or end turned under or crimped o r becomes twisted and crooked and. straight alinement andorder will caught and carried out of the feeding mechanism without interruptingeor stopping the .View of a 'the side frames 4 are be automatically Weattain these objects by the mechanism villustrated in the accompanying drawings,

in which:

v Figure l is a side elevation of the improved machine for feeding blanks to gumming, printing, and other blank using mac ines.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the opposite side of the machine from that shown in Fig. 1. g

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the same.

Fig. 4 is a plan view thereof.

Fig. `5 is a vertical sectional view through one, of the pneumatically operatedv blank feeding tubes, and its supporting arm, and showing the manner of its connection with its operating rack bar.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation ofthe pawl, ratchet, yand cam mechanism for automatically yeffecting and controlling the upward -mjofement of the blank stack supporting ta e.

Fig. 7 is an edge view of the same.

.Fig 8 is a sectional plan view showing a portion of the blank stack supporting table and its slideway and one of the laterally adjustable blank guidebars and its operating means.

Fig. 9 is a vertical longitudinal sectional portion of theblank table frame and its slideway and one of the feed screws for raising and loweringthe same.

Fig. l0 is a d-etail sectional view illustrating the mechanism lfor removing blanks which are delivered to the feed roller in a crooked or distorted manner.

Similar letters of reference refer to similar parts through the several views.

Our blank feeding mechanism consists of `l and 2, which two side frames form what we term the blank stacking frame. ,These frames are secured by any suitable means to the machine, whatever it vmay be, that our blank feeder is to feed blanks to. In these frames we journal in suitable bearings formed in them a shaft 3, on the opposite end portions of which gears secured. These gears' mesh with gears 5 that are mounted on the lower ends of vertically disposed threaded rods 6, which are supported in Frlugs 7 of the frame and are threaded in nut bushingsS, that are secured .in recesses 9, formed in the opposite end porrotates the shaft and through its gears 4 l and the gears `5 of the threaded rods rotates the rods inthe fixed nut bushings and raises or lowers the table. This table is arranged to support a stack or pile of blanks such as is used for coveringpaste-board boxes for which use these blanks are fed from our automatic blank feeding mechanism to a l gumming machine, where they are coated with adhesiveV gum on lone of their sides,` An example of the applicationyof our blank feeding mechanism to a 'gumming machine 'is illustrated andldescribed in our 4pending application Serial Number 30,471, filed May Our invention ncontemplates broadly the application of our automatic ,blank .feeder to all kinds of machines to which blanks of any kind of material and for any use are i l fed.

Across the supporting frames 1 and 2 of ythe table a right and left handed lthreaded rod 14 is extended and journaled in said frames, one end of which extends beyond its adjacent framel and is provided with a turning crank 15. On the right and left hand threaded rod 14, double ended levers 16 and 17 are threaded to its end portions. The lower ends of these double ended levers are loosely .and slidably mounted onfa smooth rod 18, which extends across the frames and is journaled in them, and which acts as a horizontal guide rod for the threaded double ended levers. The upper ends of these double ended arms are each provided with a vertical rod 19, and these two rods project' up through slots 20 formed in and through the. table from its opposite side edges, andthese two rods form vertical side guides for the Stack of blanks on the blank holding table .12. /These blank holding 'guides are laterally adjustable to move in unison toward or away from the center of the table by turning the crank 15 and they extend far enough'above the top of"the blanksto act as guides for the full Vheight vof the stack of blanks or of any pa'rt-"ofit .as the blanks are' fed to the machine. A

The top of the table is -atbut is tilted slightly toward lthe machine to whichY the blanksv are to be fed, and a Istack of the blanks 21 is placed on the table and theyy stan-:l slightly tiltedtoward the machine our blank feeder is to be attached to, owing to the tilting position of the table '12, which tends to cause them to lean against the vertically disposed bars 22, that are secured to a cross-bar 23 that is attached to the insides of the adjacent frames. This pile of blanks extends up to the air suction blank gripping mechanism, and the table is raised automatically by -this blank feeding mechanism periodically as this blank feeding mechanism requires it within its operative movement.

On the end of the gear shaft 3 that extends through and beyond the side frame 2, a ratchet wheel 24 is secured, and on the outside of this ratchet wheel a hub 2^ is mounted loosely on the shaft, which is provided with an arm 25 that supports a spring actuated pawl 2G which is arranged to extend in operative meshing relation to the ratchet teeth of the ratchet wheel 24, and beyond their inner edge and on the inside of the ratchet wheel a cam'disk 27 is loosely mounted on the shaft n3, which has a smooth peripheral surface that' is free from ratchet teeth and that isenough larger in diameter than the ratchet wheel to normally be engaged by said pawl 26 whichnormally rests on it. This cam disk is provided with a .recess 28-in its peripheral edge that is long enough to equal the length of several of the ratchet teeth of the ratchet wheel; As the smooth edge of 4tliis disk islarger in diameter than the ratchet wheel,the pawl which is mounted in operative position ,on the ratchet disk will not enter into mesh with its teeth only when the recess portion of the smooth rim of the cam disk is in the reciprocal path of the pawl 26. Consequently when this cam disk is moved so that its recess 28 registers opposite to the pawl, the pawl will engage the teeth -turn,it to the extent of several teeth, and the mechanism that moves this camdisk'27 and the pawl to operate the ratchet wheel to turn theshaft 3 and thus raise and lower the table, is as follows: i 4 j A lever 29 is secured at one end to the prdojebting arm 25 formed'on the lpawl support'ng hub 25, the opposite end of which `extends to `and`is connected to one end of partial rotative movement on its supporting shaft by the cam 33 and the rock arm 30J Thelpawl is rigidly secured to a pin 36 that extends through a lug 37 Y,formed on tli'e armv 2,5. IThis pin isprovided with a spring 38 that is arranged to hold the pawl in resilient tension against the smooth edge i disk, and in engaglng' relation to the ratchet toothed wheel. The smoothed edge cam disk 27 islmoved reciprocally on the 'tables operatmg shaft 3 in the following manner, to

of the ratchet disk and will free the. paWl so that it Will engage the teeth of the ratchet Wheel: A link 39 is secured at one end to it and at its opposite end it is secured to one end of a rock arm 40. This rock arm 40 is pivotally attached intermediate of its ends by a bolt 4l to the adj a cent side frame 2 of the blank stacking frame, While the free end of .this rock arm is provided With a roller 42. This rock arm is held in its operative position by a spring 43, which holds'the lever against a pin 44 and which is secured at one end to it just above its link connecting end, and at its opposite end is secured to the frame 2. The roller 42 of this rock arm is engaged intermittently by the lower end 45 of a rock arm 46, which is secured to the end of a shaft 47 that extends across and is journaled in the side frames of the blank stacking frame. This rock arm 46 and this shaft 47 form a part of the operating means for the blank gripping air suction tubes 48 and their cooperating mechanism that operates the cam actuated ratchet andv pawl raising and lowering table mechanism just described, "and which is arranged Aand operates the ratchet and pawl mechanism as follows:

j The opposite end 49 of this rock arm 46 containsan aperture in which a swiveling lug'50 is loosely secured, and4 the outer end of this lug is loosely and slidably mounted on one end of a rod 5l, and against. one end of akcoiled spring 52. The opposite end of this spring bears against a collar 53, which is secured upon the rod 51. The end of this rod 5l adjacent to the lug clip is provided With a collar nut 54 which can be adjusted tov limit the lug on the rod toward its free end.

The Vopposite end of the rod 5l is pivotally connected to one end of a rock arm 55 that is pivotally connected intermediate of its ends by a bolt 56 to the side frame of the paper stacking machine. of this rock arm 55is provided with a roller 57 which is engaged by a cam groove which is formed in the cam disk 34 that is mounted on the shaft35. On the shaft 47 a vertically disposed crank lever`58 is secured at one end, the upper end of Which` is pivotally connected to one end of a link 59', the opposite endV of which is pivotally connected to one end of a rock arm 60 that is mounted intermediate of its ends on a rock shaft 61, that extends across and is journaled in bearings formed in the side frames ofl the blank stacking frame. Zlhe opposite end of this rock arm 60 terminates in a casing member 62 that supports slidably a toothed bar 63, as Will be presently described.

rllhis rock shaft 61 extends across the Ablank stacking frames, and a crank lever 64 is securedat one end to it; the end of this crank lever 64, is pivotally connected to one end of a. connecting rod 65, that extends to- Ward the bed plate 66 of the machine, and

The opposite end J its opposite end is connected to a rock arm 67 which is pivotally connected just above the bed plate 66 to the adjacent side frame l of the machine. The opposite end of this rock armA is provided With a roller 68, that is arranged to be engaged by a cam groove 69, that is formed on a disk 70that is mounted on 'the shaft 35. rl`his cam 69 and its rock armf67, together with the v` connecting` rod 65 and the lever 64, imw part an oscillating movement to the rock shaft that results in a rocking sliding movement being imparted to the blank engaging pneumatically operating air suction tubes and 'their supporting mechanism, which are adapted to move down against thc topof the stack of blanks, grip by suction the top blankof the stack of blanks, raise it up clear of the blanks below the top blanks, then Inove the blank that has been gripped by suction forward and carry it down and deposite it directly on top of a suction box 7l of al feed roller, from which it may be taken by the mechanism Aof the machine to which our blank feeder is attached. lf desired a suction box may be attached to the platen or to afeed roller as .shown and the blank may be gripped and fed by the feed roller into the machine our blank feeder is attached to, it being optional with the user as to the means he employs to take the blank away from Where the suction tubes have deposited it. After releasing the blank at the platen, the blank picking up and carrying and depositing suction tubes return back to the stack of blanks for another blank.

We Will now describe this new, novel and reliable pneumatically operating single blank feeding mechanism.

A gear 72 is rigidly mounted on. the rod shaft 61, which meshes with the toothed rack 63. This toothed rack is slidably mounted in the casing member 62, which forms a part ofthe lower end ofthe rock arm 60. Consequently the supporting casing of this toothed bar has a rocking motion that is 11nparted to it by the shaft 47. The gear 72 meshes in the teeth of the rack bar and the gear 72 imparts a` reciprocal movement to lthe toothed bar independent of the rocking tubes 48 which are secured to them preferabl-y by 'being forced into them. The lower ends of these tubes are provided with short tubular members 77 that are larger in diameter than the tubes 48.y These blank gr1pping ends of the tubes and the blank gripu l ping tubes themselves may bc of any suitable shape but are preferably in the form of circular tubes of about a half inch in diameter but may be made larger 0r smaller as desired, and they may be made of any suitable material. We preferably however construct them of metal.

We have preferably illustrated but two of these blank gripping, carrying and depositing sucker members, but more may be added if desired.

These air tubes have an up and down combined rocking and reciprocal movement, which owing to the rock arm *and its casing and the toothed rack, results in forcing the -air tube members down tightly against the surface of t e top blank of the stack of blanks. ThenMafter the tubes have been moved down against the blanks they are lifted with the blank gripped to them, Thenthe tubes move upwardly and forward, which results in the front or advancing edge of the blank being carried upwardly and forwardly against the edge of a couple of saw toothed Scrapers 78, which are supported directly in front of and`in the path of the forward or advancing edge of each blank as it is raised up by the sucker members. These `saw toothed Scrapers are secured to the ,ver-

tical bars 22 that are attached to the cross bar 23 that .extends across the insides of they side frames of the blank stacker.

These saw tooth Scrapers comprise block shaped members that each has an upwardly and forwardly curved face, that is engaged by the advancing edge of each blank which is pushed against it, and as the blank is raised, its advancing edge scrapes rubs, vibrates and chatters from the point of one saw tooth to the part of the next one as it is pressed over and against these scrapers. Having raised the blanks over the scrapers, the sucker members carry the blank on its fogward stroke over to the sucker box of the feed roller 79 and drop it down with its advancing edge directly over the line of air suction apertures in the suction box, where it is gripped down against the surface of the air suction bar of the feed roller by a presser plate 8O which will be presently described. The pressure plate that holds the blanks against the air suction apertures 81 of the feed roller is arranged to press the blanks down against air suction apertures 8l while the air tubes are raised up from it i on a rock shaft 83 which is actuated to fly down and engage the blank by a spring 8a which is operatively connected to it, and also by a rock arm 85 that is mounted on the rock shaft and engages a cam 86 that is formed on a sprocket wheel 87 that is mounted on the shaft 88 which is connected by a chain 8A with a sprocket wheel on the driving shaft The cam and rock arm mechanism are timed to raise the bar high enough to allow the tubes to move a blank under itover the row or line of air suction v(apertures in the suction box of the feed roller, when the cam instantly releases the rock arm and the spring 84 throws the plate down on the blank and holds it down with resilient pressure. This blank gripping plate 80. is provided with recesses that register over the air suction apertures of the air suction box of the feed roller, in order that there may be an unobstructed passage'- way for the atmosphere to the blank directly over the air suction apertures.

The sucker tube members thus pick up and scrape olf' the edges of each blank and this action loosens and frees the next blank underneath the top one, should, perchance, from any cause. the next blank start to raise up and follow the top blank.

The operation of our automatic stack of blanks :feeding and crooked blank removing apparatus is as follows:

The air tube members pick up the blanks and d-eliver them to the suction box of the feed roller in quick succession about fifty per minute, and the downward reciprocal rocking movement!7 of the sucker members supporting mechanism allows of an up and down pressure movement against the top of the stack of blanks, and the blank gripping tubes and their-reciprocating bar are arranged to feed several blanks. off from the top of the stack before the stack feeding mechanism is moved by it to feed the stack up within the full limit of the tubes blank gripping up and down reciprocal movement. The blank gripping tube device does automatically engage the stack supporting table feeding mechanism just before it reaches the limit of its blank engaging and gripping movement, and moves 1t sufficiently to start the tables feeding mechanism to feed the table upward sufficient to bring the top of the stack to the blanks within the full blank gripping movement of the air tubes, and this action of the blank gripping tubes and their supportingl mechanism is accomplished as follows:

' As long as the tubes are gripping and feeding blanks within the limit of their regular blank gripping movement, which for example we will say is ten blanks. its arm 49 of its rock arm 46 through the medium of its puppet 50 is reciprocated on the rod 51 against the spring 52 freely, and at roo the same time the cam actuated rod reciprocates freely through the puppet. As the arm moves closer to theroller 42 ofthe rock arm 40, until finally when the tenth blank is fed off of the stack the stroke of the crank arm on the spring 52 and rod 51 is of suilicient length to cause the end 45 of .this crank cause the link 39 to pull the cam 27 around on its shaft far enough to -bring its recess 28 to register opposite to the pawl, which allows the pawl, which has been resting on the smooth peripheral edge of the disk 27 and has been continuously reciprocated throughout its stroke by its cam actuated rock arm 30, to drop into the recess and consequently into mesh with the ratchet teeth of the ratchet wheel', and move this ratchet wheel rotatively a distance of several teeth, and as the ratchet wheel is secured to the shaft 3 it through the medium of its gears 4 and the gears 5 on the threaded rods 6 rotates these rods and as they are threadedly attached to the table, the table andthe stack of blanks is raised, and this ratchet engaging and step by step turning movement'of,the pawl is continued as long as the crank arms lower end has stroke movement enough to strike the roller and cause the rock arm 40 to move the recess 28 of the cam 27 to register opposite to the pawl to allow it to-drop into the ratchet teeth ofthe ratchet wheel 24.

The instant the table and its stack of blanks is raised up to the full limit of the feeding movement ofthe blank gripping tubes, the stroke of the lower end ofthe crank arm is too short to strike the roller,

' air suction tubes in'.

and the cam is drawn yback by the spring 43 which acts on` the rock arm to cause the link 39 to push the cam 27 around on its shaft so that its `recess 28 isout of the path of the ride on its'smooth peripheral surface. It will thus be seen that the blank gripping and feeding tubes with their rocking and reciprocal supporting bar and cooperating mechanism autol matically feed the stack of blanks to the tubes as they are needed. It is essential that the blank down after the air suction tubes have deposited it on the air suction apertures of the 'feed roller, some positive means be provided for instantly removing the crooked blanks from the feed roller, and this lfeature of our l with the blank feeding movements of the the following manner: To the back of the vertical bars 22 that support the saw toothed Scrapers, I secure arm `at a suiiicient distance to strike the roller and tilt the rock arm `40 and partially rotates this shaft, which in addition to holding invention coperates j la pair of blocks 89, in the sides of which apertures are formed, that receive the opposite ends of a shaft 90 on which rollers 91 are formed at short spaces apart. The rollers are larger in diameter than the shaft, and they form frictional idler rollers for a lset of rollers 92 that are formed on a shaft 93 that extends across and between the side frames 1 and 2 and is journaled in them. One end of this shaft extends beyond the frame and a roundbelt sheave 94 is secured on its end. The rollers 92 on the shaft 93 are set close enough to the idler rollers 91 to either bear against them orbe close enough for them to grip and feed a blank down between them. This belt sheave is providedwith a round belt 95 that extends over suitable sheaves 96 and 97 that are properly mounted on theY adjacent side frame, and the belt extends .from these sheaves 96 and 97 to and is mounted on a sheave 98 that is secured on a right angled Shaft 99 thatvis operatedlby a clutch controlled power driven shaft 100, which operates the shaft 35 by a worm pinion and gear.

The crooked blanks arev engagedv by an oscillating plate 101 that is provided with projecting blades that strike the blanks and carry them down between the rollers 91 and 92,.the blades of the plate being arranged to extend down between the ends of the rollers and between the stem and the shaft.

This feature of our invention we carry out in the following manner:

'Upon the hub portions 102 of the feed roller 79 we mount loosely two rock arms 103, the ends of which extend toward the feed rollers 91-` and 92, and to them we secure the thin metal angular shaped plate 101, which extends across the entire length of the feed roller 7 9 from one rock arm 103 to the other. The free lower edge of this angular 'plate Ais provided with projecting blade portions 104 which are spaced at a distance apart and are of a length that will enable them to pass between the ends of the rollers 91-andj92 and also down between the shaft 90 and the shaft 93. Consequently when they strike down against a blank they fold vit up and carry rotating rollers, which instantly grip it and feed it through them, while these blades pass down between the ends of the rollers and the shafts far enough to positively force the crooked blank between the rollers, which are rotating toward each other. This plate is `.normally held above and out of the blank feeding path of the air tubes and also out of the path of the blank presser plate, and it is thrown down against a crooked blank in the following manner:

The inner or'lower ends 105 of the rock arms 108 are pivotally connected to one of the ends of a pair of connecting rods 106,

it directly between the the opposite ends of which are secured to one end ofd a crank lever 107, which is secured on a shaft 108. This shaft extends across and is journaled in both frames 1 and 2, and .extends beyond the frame 1, and on its\ outside end a crank lever 109 is secured,

the free end of which is connected by a link 110 with the upper end of a rock lever 111, which is pivoted intermediate of its length tothe side frame 1. The lower end of this lever is provided with a roller 112, which engages acam 113 that is formed on a disk 114, that is mounted on the shaft 35.

This automatic blank ,removing mechanism operates in the following manner:

The rollers are positioned between the stack air tube blank feeding mechanism and the air suction apertures of the feed roller, and they rotate continuously at all times. The reciprocating plate also reciprocates at each ,cycle blank feeding movementof our feeder, or in other words, it reciprocates up downward stroke of the reciprocal move-- and down from its position out of the path of the blanks to its position between the rollers and the shafts that support the rollers between the feeding movement of each blank from the stack t'o the feed roller. Then as the blanks feed to the feed roller, all those blanks that are in proper orderly alinement and are straight are gripped by the air suction apertures of the feed roller and are quickly fed by it into the machine our feeder is attached to, but any and every and all blanks that happen to be fed to the air suction apertures of the feed roller in a crooked or twisted or disorderly alinement with the row of apertures in the air suction tubes of the feed roller so as to uncover one or more of those apertures, and consequently break the suction and are tripped -a'nd stopped at that point, instantly receive the ment of this plate intermediate of its ends or lengths, and-it is instantly doubled up and carried by this plate down into these constantly rotating rollers, which grip it and feed it through them and discharge it from the machine, without interfering in any way, shape or manner with the regular time movements of the feeding blanks, and of the blank feeding mechanism.

Our invention provides a very rapid and reliable feeder of blanks that are delivered tothe machine our feeder is attached to in straight orderly alinement, and while we have illustrated and described the preferred construction and arrangement of our blank feeder, we do not wish to be limited to it,

. as many changes might be made without departing from the spirit of our invention.

Having described ourpinvention, what We claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

`1.l A box covering blank feeder for blank gumming machines, comprising a stack holder, and means including an air suction member for gripping the' top blank and sucker member for gripping the top blank andseparating it from the stack and for `feeding it to a receiving means, and means including a plate for stripping it fr om said I bladearranged to permit the feed of orderly alined box covering blanks and to stop disorderly alined blanks, and means for removing the disorderly alined blanks, said means comprising blank gripping and ff feeding rollers interposed in the blank feeding mechanism, said blade being arranged to strike and push said disorderly alined blanks into said rollers, whereby said rollers feed said blanks between them and discharge them from the feeding mechanism.

3. In a box covering blank feeder for blank gumming machines,-means including an automatic blank feeding mechanism comprising means including air suction blank gripping sucker devices arranged to feed orderl alined blanks, said devices being provi ed withv means for stopping disorderly alined blanks, and means for removing said disorderly alined blanks from the blank feeding devices, said means comprising rotating blank receiving and gripping rollers4 arranged in the blank feeding mechanism, and a reciprocating blade arranged to strike the disorderly alined blanks and ,push them into and between said rollers, and

means for operating said blade in proper time relation to said blank feeding devices to strike said stopped disorderly alined blanks.

-4. In a box covering blank feeder for blank gumming machines, a blank feeding mechanism arranged to feed A orderly arranged and straighlt feeding blanks and means for removing disorderly arranged and crookedly feeding blanks, said means comprising blank gripping rollers interposed in the feeding path of the blanks, and a reciprocating blade arranged to move into and out of the path ,ofsaid blanks to said roller and arranged to strike the disorderly arranged blanks and carry them into said blank feeding rollers, whereby they are fed through the rollers and discharged from the feeding mechanism, means for rotating the blank feeding rollers, and means for reciprocating said blank striking blade.

5. In a box covering blank feeder for blank gummin machines, the combination with blank gripping sucker members for gripping orderly allned blanks and stopping the feed movement ofdisorderly alined Y blanks, of means for removing said disordeily alined blanks, said means comprising rotating rollers, idler rollers against which said rotating rollers rotate in blank gripping and feeding relation, means including a power transmitting belt for rotating saidw rollers and a reciprocatingblade arranged to reciprocate across the feeding path of Said blanks below the blank gripping surfaces of said rollers, and means including cam controlled rock arm mechanism for reciprocating said blade. Q

6. In a blank feeder for blank gumming machines, the combination of the stack of blanks supporting and feeding table, with a blank feeding mechanism arranged to feed blanks one at a time from said stack to a predetermined discharging point, comprising a rock shaft, a gear secured thereon, a rock arm loosely mounted on said rockshaft, a toothed bar reciprocally mounted in the lower end of said rock bar, adjustable air suction operating blank gripping cupped tubes carried by said toothed bar, said tubes being adapted to be connected to air suction producing mechanism, and means including arm mechanism for imto said air suction tubes whereby they are caused to grip blanks by air suction one at atime at the top of said stackof blanks and convey them to said discharging point. f

7. In a blank feeder for blank gummin machines, the combination with the mechanism for supporting a stack of blanks, with the'mechanism for prising a, rock shaft, a rock arm loosely mounted on said shaft, the lower end of Which is provided witha casing arranged to slidably house a toothed bar, a gear wheel freciprocal movement to said blank feeding one blank at a f time from said stack, said mechanism comsecured to said rock shaft `in mesh with Said toothed bar, a slotted cross bar secured to said toothed bar, air suction tubes adjustably secured to said bar, said tubes being adapted to be connected to an air suction producting mechanism, said tubes being arranged to move down on top of said stack of blanks and grip the blanks .one at a time and feed them to a predetermined dischar ing point.

8. n a blank feeder for blank gumming machines, the combination of the mechanism for supporting a stack of blanks, the air suction tubes, the pressure plate and the vertically reciprocating, irregularly alined blank removing blade, with a crank lever and rock shaft, a connecting rod secured to said crank lever, a crank arm connected at one end to said connecting rod, a roller on the opposite end of said crank arm, a cam shaft on said gumming machine, a cam disk mounted on said ycam shaft, and a cam on said disk arranged to engage the roller of said cranklarm whereby said cam and rock arm and sa'id shafts toothed bar supporting casing and said gear and toothed bar impart a vertically and horizontally rocking and gripping air suction tubes that causes it to move down on said stack of blanks and grip them one by one and convey them forward to said predetermined point.

In testimony whereof we aiX our signatures in presence of two Witnesses.

MELVILLE E. PETERS. GEORGE H. FATH. ALBERT F. MILLER.

Witnesses:

G. SARGENT ELLIOTT, ELIZABETH SMITH. 

